Little Black Creek (Black River tributary) facts for kids

Little Black Creek is a small river in New York State, United States. It flows through parts of Oneida and Herkimer counties. This creek is an important part of the local water system, eventually joining a much larger river.

About Little Black Creek

Little Black Creek is a natural waterway that helps carry water from higher elevations down to bigger rivers. It plays a role in the environment by providing habitats for plants and animals. The creek's journey is a good example of how water travels through a landscape.

Where Does It Start and End?

The journey of Little Black Creek begins at a place called Black Creek Lake. This lake is quite high up, at about 1,896 feet (or 578 meters) above sea level. From there, the water flows downhill.

The creek's journey ends when it flows into the Black River. This meeting point is near a place called Bardwell Mill, New York. At this spot, the elevation is much lower, around 1,158 feet (or 353 meters) above sea level.

What is a River Basin?

Every river or creek has something called a basin (also known as a watershed). A basin is all the land area where rain and snow eventually drain into that specific river or creek. For Little Black Creek, its basin covers about 37.9 square miles (or 98.2 square kilometers). This means all the water that falls on this area will eventually make its way into Little Black Creek.

Other Streams That Join It

As Little Black Creek flows, it gets bigger because other smaller streams join it. These smaller streams are called tributaries. Think of them as smaller branches feeding into a main tree trunk.

Some of the tributaries that flow into Little Black Creek include:

• Middle Branch Little Black Creek
• North Branch Little Black Creek
• Hars Brook
• Muskrat Brook

These smaller streams add more water to Little Black Creek, helping it on its way to the Black River.